Revision Notes, Social Structure, Stratification and Social Processes | EduRev Notes

PointsTo Remember

Social Structure:-  It refers to the way the various parts are organized and follows stable patterns of collective rules, roles, and activities. There are underlying regularities in how people behave and the relationship they have with one another.

• The term social structure points to the fact that society is structured, organized in a particular way.
• There are regularities, the pattern in how people behave and in the relationships they have with one another.
• According to Durkheim, social structure constrains our activities to constructed frameworks and patterns of organization and directs our behavior.
• Social stratification refers to the existence of structural inequalities between groups in society, in terms of their access to material or symbolic rewards.
• Modern societies are often marked by the wide difference in wealth and power.

Social stratification indicates patterns of inequality. People with superior position have certain privileges.

Understanding social processes in sociology

According to the functionalist perspective, human beings have to cooperate to meet their basic needs, to produce and to reproduce themselves and their world.

• Concerned with functional requisites and pre-requisites necessary for the system's existence.

(i) the socialization of new members;

(ii) a shared system of communication;

(iii) methods of assigning individuals to roles.

Different parts of the society have a function or role to play for the maintenance and functioning within the system of production relations.

• The conflict perspective emphasized that groups and individuals are placed differently and unequally within the system of production relations.
• Societies are divided by castes or class. Some groups are disadvantaged or discriminated against.
• Co-operation, competition, and conflict are universal features of all societies.
• The relationship between cooperation, competition and conflict is often complex and not easily separated.

Example of how relation between cooperation, conflict and competition is complex : A study conducted among different sections of society to understand the attitude towards taking natal property shows that significant number of woman emphasized apprehension rather than affection by saying they would not claim full or any share of natal property because they were afraid this would sour relations with their brothers or cause brother’s wives to hate them, and that they would do longer be welcome to their natal homes. A woman demanding her share is considered to be a greedy shrew.
Definition of Accommodation : It would be seen as and effort to compromise and co-exist despite the conflict. In such a situation a woman would prefer not to claim property rights in their natal home.

Cooperation and Division of Labour 

Division of Labours:- It implies dividing the complex work into smaller parts and distributing it among laborers on the basis of their skill specialization, age, gender etc. The role of division of labor implies cooperation to fulfill certain needs of society. Durkheim argued that without human cooperation it would be difficult for human life to survive. According to him, it is a law of nature and a moral rule of human conduct.

• The role of division of labour implies cooperation to fulfil certain needs of society.
• Durkheim distinguish between mechanical and organic solidarity.

‘Social Solidarity’as given by Emile Durkheim :-

• Traditional cultures with a low division of labor are characterized by mechanical solidarity. Because most members are occupied in a similar occupation, they are bound together by common experience and shared beliefs.
• Societies characterised by organic solidarity are held by people's economic interdependence and a recognition of the importance of other's contributions. Relationships of economic reciprocity and mutual dependency come to replace shared beliefs in creating social consensus.
• This leads to alienation. It refers to the loss of control on the part of workers over the nature of the labour task, and over the products of their labor.

Cooperation:- It means working together for common interest and goals. It is associative social process which is opposite to competition and conflict.
Competition:- It is a form of social action in which we strive against each other for possession of or use of limited material or nonmaterial goods.

Conflict:-

• It implies clash of interest. The basis of conflict may vary but it is always a part of a society.
• Basis of conflict — Personal, Racial, Class, Caste, Political and international

Blow chart on types of Conflict:

Types of Conflict

(i) Overt Conflict: The conflict appears as an overt clash only when it is openly expressed.

Example - The existence of a peasant movement is an overt expression of a deep-rooted conflict over land resources. But the absence of a movement does not imply the absence of a conflict.

(ii) Covert Conflict: The conflict appears as a covert clash only when Individual secretly develops strategies to cope with conflict and ensure cooperation.

Example - A study conducted among different sections of society to understand the attitude towards taking natal property shows that significant number of women emphasized apprehension rather than affection by saying they would not claim full or any share of natal property because they were afraid this would sour relations with their brothers or cause brothers’ wives to hate them, and that they would no longer be welcome to their natal homes. A woman demanding her share is considered to be a greedy shrew. When such conflicts are not property expressed they are termed as convert conflicts.

Competition as an Idea and Practice 

• In the contemporary world, competition is the dominant norm and practice.
• Modern capitalist society lays stress on greater efficiency and greater profit maximisation.
• The following are the underlying assumptions of capitalism:
  (a) Expansion ofTrade;
  (b) Division of Labour;
  (c) Specialisation;
  (d) Rising Productivity.
• The ideology of competition is commonly found in capitalist societies.
• Competition along with the laissez-fair economy in the 19th century has made important contribution in promoting economic growth.

Conflict and Cooperation

• The term conflict implies clash of interests.
• Scarcity of resources in society results in creation of groups that struggle to gain access to and control over these resources.
• The basis of conflict vary. It could be class or caste, tribe or gender, ethnicity.
• Conflicts change in nature and form at different stages of social development.
• Social change and greater assertion of democratic rights by disadvantaged and discriminated groups made the conflict more visible.
• Conflict appears as a discord or overt clash only when it is openly expressed.
• There exists a relationship between conflict, involuntary cooperation and resistance.